Took my 51 plate 33K Octy vRS into the stealers today for a service, MOT and to get the Road Angel hardwired. Got a Furby 1.4TDI 100BHP in return (fantastic little motor!)

Around lunchtime, the service bloke rings up. "There are a few problems with your car"

Aye aye, here we go, "what's up?" I ask.

It transpires that both front pads and discs need replacing, the front ARB is shot to ****, and a rear O/S wheel bearing has given up the ghost. I reluctantly agree to having the work done after having a front spring replaced last month. I decided to knock the RA installation on the head to save some coin.

I then went to collect the car and was politely presented with a bill for

I know, It was a shock though. the service guy ran through each procedure that had been carried out and itemised every part that had been used, to his credit.

You're right as always about the BHP on't Fabia. felt like a lot more to me.

He dutifully tried to convert me to the ways of the black soot by showing me the 140BHP Octy II (18K with DSG). He reckoned the Elegance was better specced than the 'Sport' model, and adding 17's and sports suspension to the elegance was a much better deal than buying the sport.

To be fair, the vRS is running like a dream now. That new ARB makes all the difference.

I suppose that 7 hours includes a lunch break too

Just totalling up hours for the job.

i.e Brakes 1 HR, Service 1.5 HRS etc.

Just out of curiosity, how much is a service for an e36 m3?

Just out of curiosity, how much is a service for an e36 m3?

Probably a case of 'if you need to ask, you can't afford it'.

Thinking different planet here - given what I know (not a lot). Isn't it illegal to charge less than the fixed Gov. rate for an MOT so any reduction is because the garage is standing the VAT?

MOT's (not service) normally take about an hour+ :confused:

Mo

E36 M3 fixed price servicing has come down to pretty reasonable prices now,especially if you use a specialist.

just got some new front brake pads for my Boxster S and they cost

What does Shot to **** mean?

Steve

It means that the bushes attached to the ARB had broke. A common problem I'm lead to believe.

E36 M3 service costs from a typical independant specialist :

the front ARB is shot to ****,

now i for one would love to know how they can see this?its a bar ffs,its clamped to the sub frame and drop links,how can you tell its shot?the links yes,the bushes yes,but how the f00k can anyone tell if the anti roll bar is shot?unless of course its in two bits ,does it deform?does it crack and peel off its coating?i honestly would like to know how?

oops too long typing

Jason,

In a similar fashion to the Fabia ARB's the outer surface coating of the ARB cracks and corrodes. This usually leads to creaks and groans and damages the bushes.

The service guy told me that they've changed the design of the ARB on the Octy since 2001, so now it has different bushes that are less prone to damage. They have collars on them or something. the car feels a lot better now, it corners like it's on rails. It hasn't handled like this since I bought it. Woo Hoo!